3 Must-Have Smart Home Security System Features (and a Few Nice-to-Haves)

A Security System Overview for Indiana Homeowners

When deciding to invest in a home security system, it can be daunting at first. With so many features to choose from, how do you know which ones are right for your Fort Wayne, IN property? We like to separate the features into “must haves” and “nice to haves,” which can help you understand the aspects of home security that are most important to you. Keep reading to learn about the different possibilities, and don’t hesitate to give us a call for a more in-depth conversation about your home’s needs!

The Must-Haves

1. Sensors

“Sensors” is obviously a broad term. There are a lot of different aspects of your home you’ll likely want to monitor, but the important thing is to choose the sensors that are the right fit for your system. For example, CO (Carbon Monoxide) monitoring is incredibly important if you have a gas stove in your home, but if your property doesn’t use gas, there’s not much need for it.

Here are some sensor types that you should consider adding to your home:

Motion sensors: useful for keeping an eye on certain areas of the home, such as the spot in front of your safe or the walkway leading to the front door.

Door and window sensors: help keep track of who is entering (or attempting to enter) your home.

Environmental sensors: keep watch for smoke, fire, water leaks, etc.

2. Smart Alarm

If a sensor identifies a problem in your home, what happens? Depending on the alarm system, the reaction could be as simple as blaring noise throughout the home, or it could proactively alert the relevant emergency services and even send a text message or phone call to your smartphone.

We’re fans of alarm systems that allow you to customize notifications for different events. For example, if the door opens at the usual time for the kids to arrive home from school, a simple chirp might be the right alert noise, but if a window is forced open at 2 a.m., you can set the alarm to loudly inform you that something is wrong.

3. Surveillance Cameras

A few years ago, the standard for home security systems was just to have the two features listed above, but now, surveillance cameras are quickly becoming a staple for any effective system. That’s because they offer so many advantages for homeowners! Not only do they deter intruders (not many burglars would risk breaking into a home with cameras clearly watching their every move), but they can also give you peace of mind while you’re away. Instead of hoping that everything is alright while you’re on vacation or running errands, you can pull out your phone and immediately check the surveillance feeds. That way, you’ll never be left with the doubt that you left the garage door open or stove on.

The Nice-to-Haves

If you want to take the security technology in your home to the next level, these features are worth looking into:

1. Smart Locks

In the same way that surveillance cameras allow you to keep an eye on your home while you’re away, smart locks allow you to control who has access to your home. Instead of having to keep track of keys all the time, you can upgrade your home’s locks to open via biometrics, keypad, or smartphone. This feature is great when you’re running errands and need to let a family member or service company into your home. Once they arrive, just remotely unlock the door to let them in!

2. Lighting Control

Your home’s lights can actually help protect you and your family! With the right setup, your lights can turn on when triggered by certain security events. For example, you could have outdoor floodlights turn on if motion sensors detect unusual activity at night. You could also have lights turn on in a direct path to the nearest exit if a fire or environmental issue is detected at night.

3. Complete Home Automation

There’s no reason why your home security system has to be separate from the other technologies throughout your property. With smart home automation, you can connect the audio, video, lights, climate, security, and more into one streamlined, easy-to-use system. Instead of 10 different remotes, you can manage everything from your smartphone or tablet!

Check out this video to see how easy it is to control everything in one platform:

Interested in some or all of the solutions mentioned in this blog post? We’d love to talk with you in more detail. You can reach us by calling (260) 724-2276, filling out this quick contact form, or clicking the live chat window at the bottom of the screen.